History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 80

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 80
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 80

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Benjamin Radley, 1835-36, 1849-54.

Gideon Ross, 1837-38, 1857-60. James Leonard, 1837-38.

Aaron Coe, 1839-42, 1844, 1846-47. Elias Kirkpatrick, 1843.

Andrew Il. Clark, 1843.

Ephraim Clark, 1845, 1847-48.

James B. Ayres, 1846.

Simon Lambert, 1848-54, 1862, 1867-68.

David Miller, 1855-56.

Isaac Little, 1855-56.

Charles Marsh, Sr., 1857-58.

Addison S. Clark, 1859-61.

Amos P. Scudder, 1861-62, 1867, 1869-71.

John Randolph, 1827-28, 1830.

Jacob Manning, 1827-28, 1842.

Trustun Manning, 1829, 1833.

David W. Clark, 1829, 1831, 1837-

Samuel Winaats, 1794.

Philemoa Elmer, 1798, 1800. Luke Covert, 1798-1800.

John L. Miller, 1871.

Francie T. Baker, 1872-73.

Frederick A. Kinch, 1852. Charles Clark, 1854-55.

Erastus Miller, 1856-57.

Josialı S. Ferris, 1858-59.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

John Littell, 1837-39, 1841-42. Zachariah Webster, 1838. Randolph Marsh, 1839-45. John Miller, 1839-40. William Osborn, 1839-40. Jobu M. Hand, 1840. Caleb Freeman. 1841. Samuel Lee, 1841-44, 1847-51, 1853-

54.

Levi Hatfield, 1841-44, 1851. Heory Baker, Jr., 1841-44, 1848, 1856-57.

· Cornelius Buice, 1843-44. Zapbar llatfield, Jr., 1843, 1855. Saomuel Badgley, 1845. James Enders, 1845. Corra O. Mreker, 1845. Simeon Lambert, 1846-47. Jarias A. Fraeman, 1846. Ezra D. Hatfield, 1846. Gideon Ross, 1847.

Josaph Darby, 1848. Simeon Frasee, 1849-50, 1852. Cooper Parse, 1849-52. Erastus Miller, 1849-50. Clark Williams, 1849-51. David Miller, Jr., 1851-52. William Clark, Jr., 1852-55, 1857. Isaac Little, 1852-54, 1860-61. Josiah Crane, Jr., 1853-59. Vincent L. Frasee, 1853-54. Squire Radley, 1855-56. Philip Randell, 1855. Joseph S. Darby, 1856-57. Joseph Cory and Charles Marsh, tie, 1857.

Addison S. Clark, 1858. William Stanbery, 1858-60. John R. Clark, 1859. John 11. Martin, 1859-60.

Isaac F. Scudder, 1859, 1861-69.

Squier Pierson, 1860. Gaorge W. Pierson, 1860-66. John H. Martin, 1861-67. John Grant Crane, 1861. Squire Radley, 1862-67. Jacob D. French, 1862-69. Dr. Joseph Clark, 1867-69. Thomas H. Clark, 1868-70. Aaron Hatfield, 1868. Stephen S. Mapes, 1869. Theodore Hatfield, 1870. Philemun E. Coe, 1870. Levi Darby, 1870-71. Joseph G. Hanson, 1871. George R. Nicholl, 1871. Levi Cury, 1871-72.

Alzenora Buck, 1871-72.

Everts M. Pierson, 1872-73, 1879- 80.

A. D. Shepard, 1872. Wm. A MeQuoid, 1872-73. James A. Baker, 1873-75, 1877. E. D. Chamberlain, 1873. Samuel M. Foster, 1873-74. Orvin Pierson, 1874-76.

Levi Darby, 1874. Henry Wilson, 1874-75. Jacob O. French, 1875-77.

J. S. Irving, 1875-77.

Joseph A. Patterson, 1876-77. John S. Burhans, 1877-78. Stephen S Mapes, 1878. George W. Plerson, 1878. Ludlow V. Clark, 1878.

James L. Miller, 1878. Robert M. Fairbain, 1879. Johu H. Worth, 1×79. R. R. Sinclair, 1880-81. Oliver M. Pierson, 1880.

Henry F. Alpers, 1881.

James Moffett, 1881.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.1

Daniel Marsh, 1794-95. Ephraim Marsh, 1794-97. Col. Jedediah Swan, 1794-96. Patar Trembly, 1794-95, 1797. James Ross, 1795.

Capt. Recompense Stanbery, 1796- 97, 1800, 1812, 1814, 1816-17, 1820, 1824, 1826, 1830.

Benjamin Laing, 1796-97.

Capt. Charles Clark, 1800, 1804, 1807, 1811, 1813.

Moses Jaques, 1800, 1804. Ezra Darby, 1804.

Caleb Maxill, 1806, 1808, 1810, 1818. Aaron Ball, 1815.

Jonathan Woodruff, 1819, 1821, 1823, 1825, 1827, 1829, 1833, 1845.

David Ross, 1810. Gideon Ross.

Jobn Manning, 1822.

Andrew H. Clark, 1831, 1860.

Ira F. Randolph, 1832.

Javies Frazee, 1834.

Aaron Coe, 1836, 1847.

Elias Kirk patrick, 1840.

Isaac H. Pierson, 1845, 1870.

John M. Clark, 1843, 1854-55, 1860. Corra O. Meeker, 1845. Cooper Parse, 1850, 1855-57. Joseph S. Darbv, 1x58. James E. Pugsley, 1859. L. H. K. Smally, 1862-67. Erastus Miller, 1867. J. W. R. Bennet, 1868. Cornelius A. Leveridge, 1869. Samnel T. Clark, 1860. Dr. Joseph Clark. Debols Coles, 1839. Edward Hartnagle, 1874. George Godfrey, 1877. Anson Frazae, 1878.

J. D. Jaques, 1878-81.

An act was passed by the Legislature at Trenton, entitled " An Act making provision for working and repairing highways," March 16, 1798.

"Ordered, That directions shall be given to the dif- ferent overseers of the board of the road in the differ-

ent districts in said township to repair the roads in manner as is directed in and by the said act, which was done accordingly. Daniel Marsh, Esq., chair- man; Capt. Charles Clark, Luke Covert, and Ezra Darby, committee."

Early Settlement .- The first settlements were made in this township as the " West Field,"-that is, the western field of the borough of Elizabeth,-about the year 1720. The following are found among the first names : Acken, Badgley, Baker, Bryant, Brooks, Crane, Clark, Craig, Cory, Connet, Davis, Denman, Dunham, Frazee, Frost, Gennings, Hendrix, Hinds, High, Hetfield, Hole, Lambert, Littell, Ludlum, Meeker, Miller, Marsh, Mills, Pierson, Robinson, Ross, Spinnage, Scudder, Tucker, Terry, Williams, Woodruff, Wilcox, Yeomans.

Some of these names have disappeared and new ones come in, but most of them are still common in the township. Messrs. Nathaniel and Henry Baker, brothers, came from Easthampton, Long Island, and bought and lived where the widow of the late Mr. Jacob Baker resided. Afterwards Mr. Nathaniel Baker soon bought and occupied the property of Mr. Thomas Clark adjoining the parsonage. Henry Baker first lived half a mile from Westfield Church towards Springfield. He married Phebe Hedges, of Long Island, and had six children : 1. Daniel, born 3d June, 1753, and died 2d September, 1788. He mar- ried Margaret Osborn, born 14th July, 1760. 2. William, who married Jemina Woodruff, daughter of Thomas Woodruff, Esq. 3. Jonathan I., married, first, Keziah Clark, and second, Charity Clark, sisters, daughters of Jesse Clark, Esq. 4. Jeremiah, mar- ried 4th March, 1798, Mary King. They moved to Dover, Morris County. He was born 28th August, 1770; she was born 9th June, 1778. 5. Phebe, mar- ried Ziba Ludlow, of Berkshire Valley, Morris County ; and 6th. Henry, Jr.

Joseph Acken was one of the first members of what was called the Log Church, and made deacon April 7, 1769, and died Aug. 22, 1804. He had five children, -Robert, Jonathan, Sarah (who married Moses Mc- Manners), Polly (who married John Ludlow, Jr.), and Phebe Acken (who married John Davis and had seven children, Joseph. Phebe, Mary, Rebecca, Betsey, Jacob, Thomas, and Sarah Anne).

John Briant lived where Mr. John R. Miller now resides. Col. Jacob Crane lived where Mr. Josiah Crane resided for many years and there died. The colonel was for several years a member of the Colonial Legislature, and died 1759, having long been (as we read on his tombstone) on the committee, and a zeal- ons defender of the associate or town rights.

Mr. Jonathan Crane resided where Mr. John Wheeler Foster lived and died, and was for some time an alderman of the borough of Elizabeth, to which this township was until the year 1794. Mr. William Clark lived where Mr. Abner Miller lived. Mr. James Craig lived and owned the farm where

1 It is with soma difficulty that we can trace the justices of this town- ship back of the year 1834, but we believa the list aa far as we can give it is correct.

Milliano lebank

329

TOWNSHIP OF WESTFIELD.

Mr. Andrew Craig lived and died a few years ago. Gardener Connett, or Connet, lived near Lambert Mills. John Davis lived near the Branch Mills, and John Denman lived near Cranford. Isaac and Moses Frazee lived where Deacon Henry Baker, Jr., resided.

Mr. Abner Frost owned where James Roll lived. Mr. Isaac Hendrix resided on the farm formerly owned by Mr. Elias Potter. Mr. Samuel Hinds re- sided at a factory called Williams'. Mr. John High lived in 1753 where the Widow Rachel Mooney re- sided. Mr. John Lambert, son of Roger Lambert, of Wiltshire, England, and grandfather of James Lam- bert, lived where Zophar Hetfield, Jr., resided. Messrs. Anthony, Andrew, Abraham, Absalom, Moses, and John Littell resided at the Willow Grove. Mr. Cornelius Ludlum, or Ludlow, owned and lived in 1734 on the premises of the late Mrs. Parsel and Mr. Sanford Vreeland. Mr. John Meeker lived where Mr. Joseph Ogden Meeker lived. Mr. Jonathan Marsh resided where the Widow Keziah Ludlow owned. Mr. Ephraim Marsh lived where Mr. Theophilus Pierson died, now owned by his son, Oliver Pierson. Mr. Marsh lived where Mr. Charles Marsh, Jr., does. Mr. William Miller lived where his grandson, Mr. Clark Miller, resided. He was long an alderman of this ward (Westfield), in the borough of Elizabeth. He was a large landholder, and when he came here his nearest neighbor was Mr. John Lambert, Peter Willcoxsie and James Badgley being from him a dis- tance of some miles ; others soon gathered around him. Mr. John Miller settled where his grandson, Mr. Abner Miller, resided. He, too, was a deacon in the church, a very regular attendant on the sanctuary, and gen- erally in early life came to the church on foot, and had the curiosity to count the steps from his dwelling to the church. Mr. Enoch Miller came from East- hampton, Long Island, and lived where his sons John and Jacob lived until they settled on their farms near the homestead. The house is still standing, but was altered a few years ago. Mr. William Marsh's house stood in the field opposite the late Mr. Edward Townley's. Mr. Joshua Marsh resided where the widow of Deacon Squier Pierson resides. Mr. Joseph Mills' house stood in the field west of Mr. Samuel Downer's house, and was removed a few years ago to the front of the Westfield road, adjoining the property of the late Maj. Aaron Ball's property, and D. W. Lamon purchased the late Josie Mills' house, as it was called, a few years ago. Mr. William Pierson came from Bridgehampton, on Long Island, and resided where Mr. Sylvanus Pierson died, and where Silas D. Pierson lived, near the late Eli Marsh's farm. Mr. Daniel Pierson resided where Andrew H. Clark, Esq., lived and died, and now occupied by his son, Lawrence Clark. Mr. David Pierson resided where lived Wil- liam Clark, Jr., now owned by the Clark family. Mr. John Robinson resided nearly opposite Mr. Sandford Vreeland's. Mr. John Ross resided where Gideon Ross, Esq., lived, and still remains in the Ross family.

Mr. John Ross was in 1743 mayor of the borough of Elizabeth. A Mr. Daniel Ross resided a short dis- tance east of Mr. Amos Scudder's. Mr. John Spin- nage lived where Mr. L. H. Miller owned. Mr. Ephraim Scudder owned and resided on the Rahway road. The farms are still owned by the families of Scudder. It was purchased by the ancestor of the Scudders from a Mr. Nicholls, of Boston, Mass., and was long known as the Nicholls place. Capt. Jolın Scudder resided in the centre of Judge Coe's farm. Mr. Warner Tucker resided where Mr. Robert French lived. Mr. Thomas Terry came from Riverhead, on Long Island, and resided on what was known as the John Terry farm. Mr. - Williams lived on the Jonathan Williams farm. Jonathan Woodruff resided where Jonathan Woodruff, Esq., lived and died, back of the church on Mountain road. Mr. John Wood- ruff lived where Mr. Sylvanus Pierson resided.

The Indians frequently annoyed these early settlers, and many incidents are handed down to the present generation. It is said that they had growing tobacco and peas, and had some fruit-trees ; they had salt and copper beads as well as copper pipes. "There was many battles fought, and the last one about one mile from Westfield Mountain, New Springfield," which resulted in the defeat of the Indians, who were pur- sued as far as they could be and leave time for their pursuers to reach home at night.

The commencement of what is called the French war in Canada drew off the Indians in that direction, and they never returned in great numbers to this vicinity, and the few that came back resided near the Branch Mills. Their burial-ground is to be found on the late Jacob Miller farm, on a line of the mill stream.

It appears from various records that the early set- tlers were troubled with wolves, " which caused con- siderable annoyance. A bounty of thirty shillings was offered for every one that might be killed."

" Ash Swamp, Short Hills, July 16, 1750. About ten days ago a shower of hail as big as hens' eggs destroyed fields of wheat and corn, limbs of trees broke to pieces, and of birds and fowls scarce one was saved."

An advertisement of a singing-school fixes the terms at one dollar for thirteen nights, or two dollars a quarter, subscribers to find their own wood and candles.

The clothing of the pioneers was spun and woven by the women. In almost every household women wore their linsey-woolsey and made the clothes for the family. Nearly every head of family tanned his own leather. The tan-vat of those days was a large trongh sunk in the ground ; bark was shaved and pounded ; ashes were used in place of lime for taking off the hair ; bears' and hogs' lard and tallow answered in place of fish oil. The currying was done with a large knife, and the blacking was made of soot and hogs' lard. They made plows of wood and harrows with

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

wooden teetb. They also made their own cooper- ware. Some who could not do these things for them- selves gave their labor to those who could, and so all were profited and materially accommodated.

At that time when the young corn came it was a perfect jubilee among the young people. They would roast it with husks on in the ashes, and considered it a very great delicacy. Afterwards when it became hard they would grate it on a home-manufactured grater and bake the coarse meal, calling it johnny- cake, which they would take on long journeys in the interior. The hand-mills and hominy blocks were found in most their homes.

The following prices current for the year 1705 and earlier are subjoined for the entertainment of the cu- rions : Veal, 1}d. to 2d. per pound ; beef, do .; venison, 1d .; capons, 18. 6d .; hens, 9d .; ducks, 133d. ; Indian corn, ls. 6d. ; turnips, 18. ; oats, 223d. ; salt, 48. to 5s., cider, 13s. a barrel; sugar, 6d .; hops, 18 .; wearing, 8d. a yard ; a day's work, 28, 3d. for man, ls. for wo- man; powder, 38. 6d. per pound; shot, 4}d. per pound; oxen, £4 108. ; colts, 14s. ; salt shad, 3d. each ; oysters, 9d. per hundred ; wheat, 48. to 6s. per bushel ; buckwheat, 28. ; rye, 3s. 43d. ; pears, 48. ; apples, 28. to 38 .; butter, 6d. per pound ; cheese, +3d. per pound; flax, 9d. per pound; raccoon-skins, 18. 6d. each ; shingles, 38. 6d. per hundred ; clapboards, 58, per hun- dred ; rails, 68. per hundred ; tobacco, 58. per pound ; gloves, 48. 6d. Here you see the great difference in prices of nearly two hundred years ago. Many of the goods they imported. For instance, black silk, 48. 6d .; stockings, 5s .; pins, 27 cents a paper, etc. The men wore broad-brimmed hats turned up at the corners, with short pants, lappels and vests worn long, large pocket-fold, and the coats with straight collars, cuff's, and generally gilt or silver buttons ; shoes with steel or silver buckles. Many had lace ruffles to their shirt-bosoms; their hair behind tied in a cue with ribbons, generally brown or black.

Speaking of the inhabitants composing this settle- ment, the first deputy of the Quaker proprietors, Thomas Rudyard, says, " The people were generally a sober, professing people, wise in their generation, courteous in their behavior, and respectful to those in office." The Governor, Gawen Laurie, assures us that there was not in all the parish a poor body or one in want. Their treatment of their servants was mild, and they had beef, pork, bacon, pudding, but- ter, milk, and good beer and cider to drink.

On coming to this Westfield frontier the pioneers came to an uncultivated soil, and had many hard- ships and privations to encounter, but there was among them a great degree of kindness, and every man helped his neighbor. As a former resident re- marks, "Hardly any were without the means of sup- port, and none thought himself too rich to live with- out lahor, and we are not the less happier for it, but the more so."

The record of the Pierson family is somewhat brief

and imperfect. The first emigration was from Eng- land to Boston or Lynn, Mass., about A.D. 1635, and from there to Southampton, L. I., which place they with others founded A.D. 1640. Two brothers are named, Rev. Abraham Pierson and Henry Pier- son. Dissatisfaction arose, and Rev. Abraham Pier- son and a part of the colony removed to Connecticut, and afterwards to Newark, N. J., which city they founded. Henry Pierson remained at Sonthampton, L. I., and some of his descendants emigrated to West- field, N. J., and the names of these are recorded among the early settlers, viz .: William, Daniel, and David. David Pierson married Esther Badgley, and they had eight children: 1, Stephen, born Feb. 10, 1763; 2, Hannah, born Nov. 2, 1765; 3, Squire, born April 20, 1767; 4, David, born Aug. 28, 1770; 5, Moses (1st), born Oct. 9, 1774; 6, Moses (2d), born Oct. 15, 1776; 7, Samuel, born Ang. 6, 1778; 8, Dan- iel, born Jan. 1. 1783. David, their father, was born Feb. 10, 1737, and died 1790. These have all passed away, and we know nothing of them except the chil- dren of Squire Pierson, son of the third child, or Squire first. Our immediate ancestor was Moses Pierson, the fifth son of David and Esther Badgley Pierson, born Oct. 15, 1776. Just one hundred and five years ago his mother died when he was quite young, and he left home early, without education, and fared hardly in his young days. He learned the trade of a carpenter, and gave himself an education to fit him for the duties of life. At about thirty-one years of age he married Miss Elizabeth Martin Brown, of Woodbridge, N. J., by whom he had nine children, six sons and three daughters. They journeyed along in life together for more than fitty years, and now rest side by side in the quiet cemetery of Westfield, N. J.

Moses Pierson, born 1776, died 1857, aged eighty- one; married 1807.

Elizabeth Martin, born 1784, died 1862, aged sev- enty-eight; married 1807.

Their children :

William Martin Pierson, born Aug. 12, 1808.

Daniel Brown Pierson, born Jan. 10, 1810.

Charlotte Martin Pierson, born July 11, 1811. George Washington Pierson, born Nov. 2, 1813.

Daniel Marsh Pierson, born Feb. 3, 1815. John Pierson Pierson, born Nov. 4, 1816.

Charles Pierson Pierson, born Aug. 7, 1818. Araline Martin Pierson, born Nov. 18, 1820. Lydia Smith Pierson, born Ang. 20, 1822.

At a reunion held at the residence of Mrs. Char- lotte Mendell, Cranford, N. J., Oct. 15, 18SI, these were all present except David, who died in 1867, with their children, grandchildren, and great-grand- children.

In Westfield the first who kept store was Samuel Downer (Ist); he died Oct. 22, 1824, at the age of one hundred and one years. His son Samuel (2d) took his place, and for many years until his death, which took place May 29, 1846, in his eighty-sixth

William black

& H. Clark

331

TOWNSHIP OF WESTFIELD.

year, was the store-keeper opposite the village. He was the first postmaster and elder in the Presbyterian Church. William H. Pierson occupied the store after his death, and built the present one, now belonging to Mr. Gideon Ludlow.

Thomas Baker kept a store on the corner of the Westfield road and road to Rahway for many years, now known as the Dr. Corra Osborn house.

Isaac H. Pierson, Esq., for a few years kept a store where he resided and died, opposite the village green. He was school-teacher and justice of the peace.

Charles Clark was store-keeper and postmaster on the corner of main road and road what was called the Jerusalem. He died suddenly in the year 1869.

Mr. Henry B. Morehouse occupied the store when Mr. Pierson vacated, and went into the coal and lum- ber business, he being the first one in Westfield in the business, in 1859, but after a few years he sold the business to Joseph Moffitt, and was appointed ticket agent at the Westfield depot. Mr. Morehouse lives at the present time in Plainfield.

Daniel Baker was tanner and currier, and his house and shops were near the late Mrs. Abby Clark's prop- erty, by Clark's Lake, now called. He carried on the business until his death, which took place Jan. 15, 1776. He married Abigail Hendricks, of Westfield.

Ephraim Clark was tanner and currier on the Springfield and Scotch Plains road, where he resided until his death. Mr. Clark was a useful man and prominent citizen. He was made deacon in the Presbyterian Church, July 12, 1846. He married for his first wife Phebe Clark, and had four children : 1, Edwin; 2, James; 3, Henry; 4, Anne. For his second wife he married Hannah Baker, and had seven children : 1, Cyrus Osborn Clark ; 2, Daniel Clark ; 3, Phebe Clark ; 4, Margaret Clark ; 5, Mary Britton Clark ; 6, Catherine Clark ; 7, Ephraim New- ton Clark. And for his third wife he married Mar- garet Cory, daughter of Joseph Cory, of Westfield.

Master Coles was a school-teacher as well as a farmer. A number of his descendants reside at Scotch Plains. His farm was for many years after his death occupied by Jacob Miller, who died Dec. 12, 1869, and is buried in the family plot on the farm. His son, William H. Miller, now occupies the Coles farm.

Squire William Clark occupied the farm now owned by James L. Clark in the year 1809. Andrew H. Clark, his son, was also justice of the peace, school- teacher, and prominent in the Presbyterian Church, and was trustee and elder. He died in the year 1864.

John Miller owned the farm that originally be- longed to the Mulford family. Mr. William Mul- ford's descendants reside at or near Elizabeth City.

Ezekiel Ludlam resided on the farm at the corner of Westfield and Cranford roads, now opposite the farm of W. H. Miller. Here he resided until his death as a farmer, and at the same time carried on the business of cabinet-maker and undertaker. He

died in the year 1813. Mr. Eli Marsh, on the death of Mr. Ludlam, carried on the same business on the main road to Westfield. The property is now owned by Amos Clark, Esq., and the house is still standing, occupied now by Silas D. Pierson.

A Widow Baker lived where Mrs. Abbie built her house. She was also a school-teacher.

Warner Tucker bought his land of Mr. Hinds in 1742. and built himself a small house, where he car- ried on the business of a weaver.

Capt. Matthias Clark lived where William Stitt owned a farm, and built a house back on the road from Presbyterian Church to Westfield. From his epitaph we learn,-

" Capt. Matthias Clark Died June 7, 1808, Aged 54 years, A Revolutionary soldier.

Companions here we lie, Entombed beneath this stone, Till Christ shall bid ns rise, And to the judgment come."

Capt. Myreick owned the place some years after, and eventually sold it to Jacob and Joseph Davis, and afterwards was occupied by Benjamin Marsh and David M. Woodruff, and then occupied by William Stitt.

Isaac Hendricks owned the farm now occupied by John R. Miller, and also the farm owned by the late David Miller belonged in 1812 to the Hendricks family.

Andrew Creig occupied the farm of his father, and there died in the year 1860.

John Clark was called "Carpenter" Clark. He owned the farm now occupied by George W. Pierson. He was the general builder in Westfield, and in his ear- lier days was the head of his trade over a large section of this township and adjoining ones. If there was a house or barn to be built, he with the farmer would go mark their trees in the timber land. Neighbors were called upon, theu the hewing and squaring went on. When ready, a large number of his neighbors came. A sheep or calf was prepared and made into a pot-pie, as it was called, and cooked out of doors in the largest iron pot that they had. The building was raised, and perhaps by sundown partly inclosed. His neighbors received his thanks. They returned to their homes early enough to do up their chores before supper.

Sylvanus Pierson, Ist, uncle to Sylvanus, 2d, and William Pierson's brother, owned and lived on his farm, now owned by Squire Pierson's heirs, and oppo- site Mrs. Pierson's homestead. Jacob Ludlow was the father to John Ludlow, and the property is now owned by his grandson, Gideon Ludlow. Ezekiel Ludlow, who was killed by a fall from his wagon in 1813, coming from Rahway, owned the farm lately oc- cupied by John C. Miller, father of John L. Miller, wheelwright and blacksmith. He is now living in Ottawa, Kan., and Benjamin Ham, Esq., has beauti-

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

fied the place, built his house and conservatory, and is one of the most prominent men in the township. Squire Marsh was not only farmer but tailor; lived and owned the farm of the late Squire Pierson, who lately deceased, and his widow still occupies the homestead. Squire Pierson's father went to Ohio when he was a young man, and he became an ap- prentice to learn the clothing business. It was the custom to go from neighborhood to neighborhood in the spring and fall, as the shoemakers did, and make the clothing for each family.

Marsh Crane lived on the road to Springfield to Elizabeth. He had a son, who married in 1822, by name of David Crane, a daughter of Christopher Denman.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 80

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224